Sabres' streak stopped in Tampa Bay, Lightning win 5-4

Buffalo drops its first game since November 4

The Buffalo Sabres' remarkable winning streak ended on Thursday with a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. The defeat marked Buffalo's first loss since Sunday, November 4th, and ended a franchise-tying record of 10 straight victories.

The Sabres momentarily led the game in the third period, but Tampa Bay stormed back on goals by Steven Stamkos and Cedric Paquette to re-take the lead for good. Sam Reinhart scored twice for Buffalo, and Jack Eichel added two more points in the loss.

The opening 20 minutes saw three lead changes, a couple of heavy hits and a scrum as the horn sounded. Dan Girardi got the Lightning on the board first, but Zemgus Girgensons and Reinhart scored 1:03 apart to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead. Girgensons, leaping in front of Tampa Bay netminder Louis Domingue, caught a piece of Rasmus Ristolainen's shot for his second goal of the season. Reinhart put Buffalo ahead moments later after his shot deflected off Domingue and into the net.

The Sabres' lead proved to be shortlived - Alex Killorn beat an out-of-position Carter Hutton less than a minute after Reinhart's goal, tying the game 2-2. Nikita Kucherov capped off a 3-on-1 break with his 10th goal later in the period, putting Tampa Bay back in front. The goal marked Kucherov's 16th point in eight games. Zach Bogosian and Nathan Beaulieu were both hit with penalties - a 10 minute misconduct for Beaulieu - at the end of the first after mixing it up with a number of Lightning skaters including Paquette.

Buffalo pulled even once again at 5:39 of the second period on Reinhart's second of the night. Eichel's shot floated through the crease and bounced off Reinhart's skate at the near post, making it 3-3. Tage Thompson gave the Sabres yet another lead 2:29 into the 3rd period, but Stamkos answered with a power play goal less than two minutes later. Tampa Bay came on in waves during the latter part of the final period, even hitting the post on a 2-on-1 break, finally capped off by Paquette's wrist shot.

Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe left the game back in the first period and did not return with an undisclosed injury.

The Sabres are right back at it on Friday, taking on another divisional foe in the Florida Panthers. The last-place Panthers enter the game with a record of 9-10-4 (22 points). Buffalo's record is now 17-7-2 (36 points), good for a second-place with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division. Faceoff at BB&T Center is set for 7 p.m. on WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres Radio Network.